Indigenous Place Names in Canada


In this lesson, students will learn about efforts to restore traditional place names in their region and participate in a mapping activity.
Created by Canada's History — Posted September 11, 2023

Truth Before Reconciliation: Listening to Survivors

Canada’s National History Society with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

In this lesson, students will learn about traditional Indigenous place names in Canada. They will learn about efforts to restore traditional place names in their region and participate in a mapping activity. This lesson can be completed after reading the publication Truth Before Reconciliation: Listening to Survivors.

Background Information

Indigenous place names are embedded with meaning about relationships to the land — narrating historical events, conveying traditional knowledges, and revealing connections to identity and culture.

Throughout centuries of colonialism, many Indigenous place names have been altered or renamed to align with settler language. This process has resulted in a loss of the original meanings tied with many place names in what is now known as Canada.

Reinstating Indigenous place names plays an important role in recognizing, preserving, and strengthening Indigenous languages. The Geographical Names Board of Canada is working with Indigenous organizations and communities to restore the traditional names of geographical features (toponyms) and to create a map that displays Indigenous place names, along with their traditional spelling, meaning, and pronunciation.

Activity

Have your students use the Indigenous Place Names in Canada map to explore some of the places and geographical features found near your community. As you scroll through the map you will see different categories of names: place names derived from Indigenous languages, reinstated Indigenous place names, and traditional Indigenous place names that are in the process of being made official. Please note the places indicated on the map represent a small selection of the nearly 30,000 place names that are, or may be, of Indigenous origin and that are recognized as official names by the Geographic Names Board of Canada.

As you explore the map with your students, consider: Which communities are being represented on the map? What type of information does the Indigenous place name reveal? Are there any stories behind the place name? How do you have a better understanding of the land — and the relationship to the land — through the Indigenous place name? How does looking at the map with different names make you feel?

Using a large map of your province, territory, or region, have students label key locations and features with Indigenous place names. You may continue to use the Geographic Names Board of Canada map, or you can broaden the activity to include other types of place names (cities, parks, etc). Here are some additional resources you may consult:

Ask students: What can we learn from viewing our updated map? What did you learn about Indigenous place names? How does language play a role in naming? How can recognizing Indigenous place names contribute to language revitalization and reconciliation?

Extension

  • Spend more time learning about the process of renaming in your community. What is the body in charge of renaming? What are its process and criteria for renaming? Is there anything you would change or add to the process or criteria?
Residential School Survivor Support Line 1-866-925-4419

Themes associated with this article

Related to Lesson Plans

Expo 67 Unit Plan

This Unit Plan encourages teachers to reconsider their twentieth century Canadian History program, using Expo 67 as a “lens” from which to examine Canada both at “100” and “150” years.

Lesson Plan

Historical Perspectives: Japanese Internment

In this lesson students are introduced to the historical thinking concept of Historical Perspectives through an examination of the internment of Japanese-Canadians during the Second World War.

Lesson Plan

Relevance of Treaties Today

In this lesson students explore the enduring relevance and continued significance of the Treaty relationship in Canada and consider the Treaty relationship as a path toward reconciliation.

Lesson Plan

The Numbered Treaties

In this lesson students explore the Numbered Treaties with a focus on present relevance, historical and contemporary relationships, and the benefits shared by all Canadians.

Lesson Plan